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4 weeks post Tibia/Fibula shattered

Posted , 3 users are following.

ellehaydu
ellehaydu

Hi everyone,

January 16/17 I fell on the ice/snow while walking out to feed our horses. I shattered my tibia & fibula.

Surgeon placed 4 plates, 9 pins and quite a few screws. I spent a week in the hospital due to very high blood pressure post op as well as fevers. They had a surgical soft cast on my lower leg for 2 weeks, and now I'm in an air cast. My question is - is it normal for my leg to turn a dark

Purple colour when I have it down ? Also, what should I expect over the next few weeks of recovery ? I am non weight bearing for the next 3 months

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • GreenOlive
    GreenOlive ellehaydu

    Posted

    Elle,

    this is normal My leg below ankle and foot would swell and turn purplish color each time I put it down,.This is why it is recommended to RICE (raise, ice, compress, elevate).

    • ellehaydu
      ellehaydu GreenOlive

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply,

      My leg is elevated 90% of the time, and I use ice packs as well. I was just given the go ahead to bathe, so it's down long enough to settle into a bath or to crutch to the restroom.

      It seems like others had a fibreglass or plaster cast on for a few weeks before the air cast as well ?? I went into an air cast 2 weeks post op ....

    • GreenOlive
      GreenOlive ellehaydu

      Posted

      Elle,

      it depends on what kind of break you had.

      I had a trimalleolar ankle break on December 17th ,2016 and a surgery next day. I have seven screws, two pins , and a plate in my ankle. I was NWB for six week with my leg in a cast for two weeks and in a boot in for four more weeks. So it seems that your break is less complicated than mine. I bathed for the longest time with my foot hanging to the side. Nobody told me that I could not submerge the foot, but I felt very protective of it and felt better with it not being out of the water. It is such a treat to be able to properly bathe wink I wish you a speedy recovery. 

    • ellehaydu
      ellehaydu GreenOlive

      Posted

      I completely shattered the Tibia/fibula - 4 plates 9 pins and quite a few screws so I'm not sure it's less complicated ... regardless of how bad it is, I was just looking for insight as to what I should expect over the next few weeks smile

    • ellehaydu
      ellehaydu GreenOlive

      Posted

      So you had a cast for 2 weeks and then the boot - that makes me feel better hearing that smile

    • GreenOlive
      GreenOlive ellehaydu

      Posted

      So I guess we are on par with our injuries. I am a month ahead of you on recovery path. Three weeks ago I started physio therapy. I had six sessions so far ( one hour session twice a week ) . I ditched the boot after my first PT session (week seven of recovery). I just found it to be more comfortable to walk without a boot as it made my legs uneven. I also went to one crutch the same week (week seven of recovery). Next week I lost last crutch. My PT told me to get a cane, but I thought that will give it a try for a couple of days and it all worked out. I marked week nine of my recovery yesterday. I walked 11804 steps today per my watch. Yesterday it was only 7500 steps. Most of the walking is done in the pool. I found out that walking in the pool is the best thing for gaining strength and flexibility. Let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to share my experience. I found lots of advices on this forum. I would be happy to pay back wink

       

    • GreenOlive
      GreenOlive ellehaydu

      Posted

      Right. They told me that they could put me in another cast  or in the boot if I promise no to step on it. I had lot of pain in incision sites in the boot. It is not most comfortable. But I was taking it off for the night after the second week.  
  • debi37231
    debi37231 ellehaydu

    Posted

    Hi yes it is normal for it to look like that when it's down I shattered my ankle 6 years ago I had 4 surgeries during the first year. But it became worse and arthritis grew and made it so painful. I just had an ankle replacement this past December and I'm still healing it takes a while for your leg coloring to become normal so don't concern yourself about this as you heal it will get better. I hope you feel better

    • debi37231
      debi37231 ellehaydu

      Posted

      You are welcome I'm here if you have more questions good luck

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